Get To Know H.E.R.

I think we’ve spent enough time in 1987, don’t you? So without any further procrastination, here is the much hyped, highly anticipated review of Down By Law. Ahh, let’s be serious. Most of my readers have probably never even heard a song by MC Shan, let alone a whole album. Here’s a quick background on our emcee in question. He was one of the members of Marley Marl’s Juice Crew, which meant that among his colleagues were Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, and Kool G Rap. All of whom, I might add, are better rappers than he is. He’s also remembered for being involved in the previously mentioned (in the Criminal Minded review) beef with KRS-one. That didn’t turn out too well for him either, because it more or less ended his career. Don’t agree with me? When’s the last time you even saw an MC Shan album?

I hope you’re not taking all of these negative comments to mean that I don’t like MC Shan or that I think he’s a bad rapper. I mean, almost anybody would look bad in a group consisting of BDK, Masta Ace, and KGR. BDK and KGR are freaking G.O.A.T.s, and Masta Ace has yet to put out a single album I had not enjoyed. And as for his beef with KRS, NOBODY could’ve gotten away with that except maybe Rakim. So I guess what I’m trying to say is… MC Shan is a great rapper who just met some bad luck. In another age, in another place, with another group, dude could’ve been a star. Or at the very least, he wouldn’t have sunk into the depths of old school oblivion.

The Good:

3. The Bridge - Ahh, the song that set off the whole Bridge Wars. Still sounds great to me in this day and age.

4. Kill That Noise - I guess I should give credit to Marley Marl here, because after all, when you think about it, this album is as much his as it is MC Shan’s (think Wu Tang first round solos). Great beats and great rhymes. You just can’t go wrong with that. For those who are interested, there are a bunch of shots taken at KRS found all throughout the track. Man had no idea what he was getting himself into…

5. Down By Law

6. Left Me Lonely - Despite the questionable hook, it’s a good song. Emo rap as it used to be until Atmosphere perfected the whole thing (on a side note, Slug hates it when he’s labeled as emo rap. Well, if your music ain’t happy and it’s depressing as fuck, I can’t really imagine why I wouldn’t say it’s emo.)

8. MC Space

9. Living In The World Of Hip Hop - If you don’t ever hear anything else by MC Shan in your lifetime, at least hear this one song. Bar none, my favorite song off the album.

The Solid:

1. Jane, Stop This Crazy Thing - If you’re a big Talib fan, you’ll understand me when I say that this song makes me think “Broken Glass ‘87: The Crack Edition.”

2. Project Ho

7. Another One To Get Jealous Of - Interesting first time through, but I’m not gonna be jumping to listen to it again any time soon.

The Bad:

Final Score: 9.0

If you’re used to listening to only the hip hop songs of today, this album may take a bit getting used to. Marley Marl’s beats are very minimal and sound outdated next to most of the beats that have been released since. MC Shan’s rhymes also have that authentic old school Run DMC feel to them as Rakim’s influence hadn’t lit the whole damn hip hop world on fire yet. But that doesn’t take away anything from the overall quality of the album at all. It just may take a few listens before it really starts to sink in. I can understand why it’s never really discussed with the same reverence held for other classic 80s albums such as Paid In Full and It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. But like I said, this was a time when people actually needed skills to survive and just cause Down By Law doesn’t hold up to certified classics doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great album by any means.